MVSA Member "Bob Hawykeye Jacobs" fishing in the right spot at the right time saves driver. Click here for the full MV Times article. (MV Times, June 8, 2012 by Nelson Sigelman)

Jun11

Written by:6/11/2012 8:27 PM

MV Times Article, June 8, 2012 by Nelson Sigelman

Ashley Peters, 22, of Edgartown appeared in Edgartown District Court Friday morning, to be arraigned on charges of operating under the influence of alcohol, negligent operation of a motor vehicle, speeding, and marked lanes violations. State Police Sergeant Thomas Medeiros told Ms. Peters she is fortunate to be able to appear in court.

Ms. Peters was behind the wheel of her 2006 Saturn Ion, driving from Oak Bluffs to Edgartown, when she drove off Beach Road just before Big Bridge, went across a dirt parking lot striking a sign, over a rock embankment, and plunged into Sengekontacket Pond just before 1 am, Friday morning.

Big Bridge spans one of two channels that allow an exchange of water between the pond and Nantucket Sound. At the height of the tidal flow, the current is a rushing torrent.

Bob "Hawkeye" Jacobs of Oak Bluffs is a late night fisherman. Friday morning he was fishing on Big Bridge when Ms. Peters went into the water.

Sergeant Medeiros said, "Mr. Jacobs immediately rushed to the vehicle and assisted Ms. Peters from the vehicle, which floated to the middle of the channel and submerged."

"Well, you never know what's going to happen when you go fishing," Mr. Jacobs told The Times in a telephone conversation.